by Dr. Drumm McNaughton
Changing Higher Ed is dedicated to helping higher education leaders improve their institutions. We offer the latest in higher ed news and insights from top experts in higher education who share their perspectives on how you can grow your institution. Host Dr. Drumm McNaughton is a top higher education consultant, renowned leader, and pioneer in strategic management systems and leadership boards. He's one of a select group with executive leadership experience in academe, nonprofits, government, and business.
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8/19/2018
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April 29, 2025
<p class="" data-start="322" data-end="822"><a title= "Strategic planning in higher education" href= "https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-consulting/strategic-planning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strategic planning in higher education</a> isn't just about setting goals—it's about building the kind of stakeholder engagement and leadership alignment that can drive lasting institutional change. In this episode of <a title="Changing Higher Ed® podcast" href= "https://changinghighered.com/changing-higher-ed-podcast/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Changing Higher Ed® podcast</a>, <a title= "Dr. Drumm McNaughton, Higher education consultant and CEO of The Change Leader" href= "https://changinghighered.com/dr-drumm-mcnaughton-higher-education-consultant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Drumm McNaughton</a> speaks with <a title="Dr. Andrew T. Hsu" href= "https://charleston.edu/about/leadership-administration/office-of-the-president/about.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Andrew T. Hsu</a>, President of the College of Charleston, about how a collaborative planning process helped increase enrollment, launch new academic schools, and move the college toward national university status.</p> <p class="" data-start="824" data-end="1078">Drawing on his background in both industry and higher education, Dr. Hsu shares insights into balancing urgency with collaboration, the importance of faculty engagement, and the realities of leading strategic change within shared governance environments.</p> <p class="" data-start="1080" data-end="1271">This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, boards, provosts, and leadership teams navigating strategic growth, governance challenges, or long-range institutional transformation.</p> <p class="" data-start="1273" data-end="1292"><strong data-start= "1273" data-end="1292">Topics Covered:</strong></p> <ul data-start="1293" data-end="1828"> <li class="" data-start="1293" data-end="1395"> <p class="" data-start="1295" data-end="1395">How strategic planning anchored the College of Charleston’s enrollment growth and academic expansion</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1396" data-end="1486"> <p class="" data-start="1398" data-end="1486">Why broad faculty engagement strengthens institutional resilience and accelerates change</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1487" data-end="1570"> <p class="" data-start="1489" data-end="1570">Lessons from balancing urgency for change with the realities of shared governance</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1571" data-end="1653"> <p class="" data-start="1573" data-end="1653">How industry experience shaped Dr. Hsu’s leadership approach in higher education</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1654" data-end="1753"> <p class="" data-start="1656" data-end="1753">Governance missteps: What happens when leadership bypasses consultation—and how to correct course</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1754" data-end="1828"> <p class="" data-start="1756" data-end="1828">Long-term growth planning and the move toward national university status</p> </li> </ul> <p class="" data-start="1830" data-end="1864"><strong data-start= "1830" data-end="1864">Real-World Examples Discussed:</strong></p> <ul data-start="1865" data-end="2205"> <li class="" data-start="1865" data-end="2010"> <p class="" data-start="1867" data-end="2010">College of Charleston’s creation of Schools of Health Sciences, Natural and Environmental Sciences, and Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2011" data-end="2104"> <p class="" data-start="2013" data-end="2104">The enrollment surge from 11,000 to 32,000 applications annually under Dr. Hsu’s leadership</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2105" data-end="2205"> <p class="" data-start="2107" data-end="2205">Policy changes at Charleston to formalize academic reorganization processes after early challenges</p> </li> </ul> <p class="" data-start="2207" data-end="2246"><strong data-start= "2207" data-end="2246">Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:</strong></p> <ol data-start="2247" data-end="2674"> <li class="" data-start="2247" data-end="2389"> <p class="" data-start="2249" data-end="2389">Build stakeholder ownership early: Strategic planning must involve faculty, staff, students, alumni, and governing boards to ensure success.</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2390" data-end="2519"> <p class="" data-start="2392" data-end="2519">Respect governance processes: Even well-intentioned leadership actions can falter without proper consultation and transparency.</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2520" data-end="2674"> <p class="" data-start="2522" data-end="2674">Balance urgency with collaboration: Sustainable change in higher education requires leaders to move decisively while honoring shared governance culture.</p> </li> </ol> <p class="" data-start="2676" data-end="2844">This episode offers practical strategies for institutions seeking to strengthen their strategic planning efforts and drive sustainable growth through collaborative leadership.</p> <p class="" data-start="2846" data-end="3035"><strong data-start= "2846" data-end="2866">Recommended For:</strong><br data-start= "2866" data-end="2869" /> Presidents, provosts, trustees, board members, strategic planning leaders, and senior administrators focused on institutional transformation and governance alignment.</p> <p class="" data-start="3037" data-end="3151"><strong data-start= "3037" data-end="3061">Read the transcript:</strong><br data-start= "3061" data-end="3064" /> <a class="cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start= "3064" data-end= "3151">https://changinghighered.com/higher-education-strategic-planning-and-growth/</a></p> <p class="" data-start="3153" data-end="3233">#HigherEdLeadership #StrategicPlanning #SharedGovernance #HigherEducationPodcast</p>
April 22, 2025
<p class="" data-start="333" data-end="392">With state capital support on the decline and infrastructure aging out of usefulness, higher education leaders are under pressure to find new ways to fund capital projects—without compromising mission, control, or long-term sustainability. In this episode of <a title= "Changing Higher Ed Podcast" href= "https://changinghighered.com/changing-higher-ed-podcast/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Changing Higher Ed®</a>, Dr. Drumm McNaughton explores creative capital funding strategies institutions are using to meet urgent facility and housing demands.</p> <p class="" data-start="828" data-end="1123">His guest, <a title= "Brent Miller—Higher Education Market Sector Leader at HED" href= "https://hed.co/people/brent-miller" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Brent Miller—Higher Education Market Sector Leader at HED</a>—shares how colleges and universities across the country are structuring public-private partnerships (P3s), securing transformational donor gifts, and leveraging local bond initiatives to move large-scale capital plans forward.</p> <p class="" data-start="1125" data-end="1482">This conversation is especially relevant for presidents, CFOs, trustees, and VPs of facilities navigating deferred maintenance, campus growth, or strategic repositioning. Brent brings 30+ years of architectural and capital planning experience to the conversation, offering insights from some of the most innovative projects in higher ed capital development.</p> <h3 class="" data-start="1484" data-end="1503">Topics Covered:</h3> <ul data-start="1504" data-end="2036"> <li class="" data-start="1504" data-end="1598"> <p class="" data-start="1506" data-end="1598">Why traditional state funding is no longer enough—and what institutions are doing about it</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1599" data-end="1698"> <p class="" data-start="1601" data-end="1698">How public-private partnerships (P3s) work, and which types of projects they’re best suited for</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1699" data-end="1780"> <p class="" data-start="1701" data-end="1780">Case studies from USC, UC Irvine, University of Michigan, UC Merced, and more</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1781" data-end="1862"> <p class="" data-start="1783" data-end="1862">Donor and corporate partnership models that align with institutional missions</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1863" data-end="1939"> <p class="" data-start="1865" data-end="1939">How local bond initiatives are changing the future of community colleges</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1940" data-end="2036"> <p class="" data-start="1942" data-end="2036">What boards and presidents need to know about aligning capital projects with strategy and risk</p> </li> </ul> <h3 class="" data-start="2038" data-end="2072">Real-World Examples Discussed:</h3> <ul data-start="2073" data-end="2697"> <li class="" data-start="2073" data-end="2160"> <p class="" data-start="2075" data-end="2160">USC’s Iovine and Young Academy, funded by a $70M gift from Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2161" data-end="2251"> <p class="" data-start="2163" data-end="2251">UC Irvine’s interdisciplinary health sciences building—merging donor intent and design</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2252" data-end="2351"> <p class="" data-start="2254" data-end="2351">University of Michigan’s Ford Robotics Building, a co-developed corporate-academic research hub</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2352" data-end="2430"> <p class="" data-start="2354" data-end="2430">UC Merced 2020, a $1.3B P3 that doubled the university’s physical capacity</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2431" data-end="2510"> <p class="" data-start="2433" data-end="2510">Cal State San Marcos’ early mixed-use P3 development for housing and retail</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2511" data-end="2621"> <p class="" data-start="2513" data-end="2621">A facilities deal struck to replace plant equipment at cost and pay via utility savings</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2622" data-end="2697"> <p class="" data-start="2624" data-end="2697">General Motors University as an early model of industry-aligned higher ed</p> </li> </ul> <h3 class="" data-start="2699" data-end="2738">Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:</h3> <ol data-start="2739" data-end="3165"> <li class="" data-start="2739" data-end="2898"> <p class="" data-start="2742" data-end="2898"><strong data-start= "2742" data-end="2785">Ensure capital alignment with strategy:</strong> Every capital initiative should support the university’s mission, enrollment trajectory, and long-term vision.</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2899" data-end="3029"> <p class="" data-start="2902" data-end="3029"><strong data-start= "2902" data-end="2931">Build in lifecycle costs:</strong> Deferred maintenance and energy savings must be part of the upfront planning—not afterthoughts.</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="3030" data-end="3165"> <p class="" data-start="3033" data-end="3165"><strong data-start= "3033" data-end="3069">Communicate across stakeholders:</strong> From boards and donors to students and local communities, transparency is essential to success.</p> </li> </ol> <p class="" data-start="3167" data-end="3361">This episode provides both a strategic framework and actionable insight into how today’s institutions can overcome capital constraints through innovation, collaboration, and long-range thinking.</p> <p class="" data-start="3363" data-end="3545"><strong data-start= "3363" data-end="3383">Recommended For:</strong><br data-start= "3383" data-end="3386" /> Presidents, provosts, CFOs, trustees, board chairs, and facilities executives leading campus master planning, housing expansion, or long-term capital strategy.</p> <p class="" data-start="3547" data-end="3664"><strong data-start= "3550" data-end="3585">Read the transcript:</strong><br data-start= "3585" data-end="3588" /> <a href= "https://changinghighered.com/capital-funding-strategies-in-higher-education/"> https://changinghighered.com/capital-funding-strategies-in-higher-education/</a></p> <p class="" data-start="3547" data-end="3664">#HigherEdLeadership #PublicPrivatePartnerships #HigherEducation #HigherEducationPodcast</p>
April 15, 2025
<p class="" data-start="1152" data-end="1590">Public confidence in colleges and universities has dropped dramatically—only a third of Americans say they trust higher education. In this episode, Dr. Drumm McNaughton talks with Dr. Courtney Brown, Vice President of Strategic Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation, about Gallup–Lumina’s latest findings and what institutional leaders must do to address the affordability and workforce relevance concerns behind this erosion of trust.</p> <p class="" data-start="1592" data-end="1703">They also explore Lumina’s new 2040 goal: 75% credential attainment—with a focus on value, not just completion.</p> <p class="" data-start="1844" data-end="1878"><strong data-start= "1844" data-end="1878">What we cover in this episode:</strong></p> <ul data-start="1879" data-end="2277"> <li class="" data-start="1879" data-end="1940"> <p class="" data-start="1881" data-end="1940">Gallup data on declining public trust in higher education</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="1941" data-end="2006"> <p class="" data-start="1943" data-end="2006">The ROI paradox: affordability vs. long-term economic benefit</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2007" data-end="2079"> <p class="" data-start="2009" data-end="2079">Why public perception is shifting—even as current students see value</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2080" data-end="2143"> <p class="" data-start="2082" data-end="2143">What Lumina’s 75x2040 goal means for institutional strategy</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2144" data-end="2208"> <p class="" data-start="2146" data-end="2208">How colleges can realign offerings to workforce expectations</p> </li> <li class="" data-start="2209" data-end="2277"> <p class="" data-start="2211" data-end="2277">Supporting adult learners and restoring trust through transparency</p> </li> </ul> <p>Read the full show summary and access the transcript here:<br data-start="1766" data-end="1769" /> <strong data-start="1769" data-end="1842"><a class="" href= "https://changinghighered.com/public-trust-in-higher-education-lumina/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="1771" data-end= "1840">https://changinghighered.com/public-trust-in-higher-education-lumina/</a></strong></p> <p><strong data-start="1769" data-end="1842">#HigherEducation #CollegeAffordability #CollegeROI</strong></p> <p class="" data-start="2279" data-end="2517"><strong data-start= "2279" data-end="2298">About Our Guest</strong><br data-start= "2298" data-end="2301" /> Dr. Courtney Brown is Vice President of Strategic Impact and Planning at Lumina Foundation. She leads research, learning, and strategic initiatives aimed at increasing access to quality credentials for all Americans.</p> <p class="" data-start="2279" data-end="2517"><strong data-start= "357" data-end="375">About the Host</strong><br data-start="375" data-end="378" /> Dr. Drumm McNaughton is CEO of The Change Leader and host of the Changing Higher Ed podcast. He works with higher education boards and leadership teams to improve governance, lead strategic transformation, and navigate accreditation and institutional effectiveness.</p>
Jeff Selingo, Michael Horn
TED
Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Dave Stachowiak
Andy Stanley
NPR
Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Bonni Stachowiak
insidehighered
Mark Stucker
Vox Media Podcast Network
Ramsey Network
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